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Reviews
Elizabeth (1998)
rather odious
At first I thought this was a fairly entertaining movie. But now we have seen "Elizabeth" from the BBC on our TV screens, starring Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons, and oh, what a difference in quality. Many actresses have tackled the role of good Queen Bess but none can even come close to Mirren's superb portrayal. I must say as an Englishman it displeases me to see two Australians cast in leading roles in a truly English story, added to which French football player Eric Cantona was thrown in the pot. I hope all involved in the Blanchett film take time to study Mirren's performance and the rest of the cast as a lesson in superb acting.
Colditz (2005)
Clayton Hutton
I enjoyed watching "Colditz" very much. However I was extremely disappointed in the character of Bunny Warren, played by Timothy West. This character is based on the war activities of Clayton Hutton (always known as Clutty). He was a remarkable man and I commend his book "Official Secret" as a true guide to the man. Clutty was one of those unsung heroes of those days who played a vital role during those dark days. To portray him as some kind of bumbling, irascible "boffin" does great discredit to the man. The writers of "Colditz" should be ashamed of their manner in which they presented him in this drama. He deserves better than that.
Ned Kelly (2003)
Such is life !
In watching this movie we can't be sure how accurate some of the facts are, but it seems the Irish's answer to problems is with a loaded gun. Sure Kelly, and many other settlers were badly treated, but really the gun is not an answer. Kelly actually got the fate he deserved, having taken so many lives in his quest for "justice". I found this film to be a bit twee for my liking. Why did they keep showing shots of parrots, lizards, etc. Was that to make sure we realised the story was set in Australia and not Ireland. I for one hope that this remake will now finally be the last, in fact I thought that after Mick Jagger was hopelessly cast in the role. One reviewer thought the Australians had a "chip on their shoulder," in regard to their colonial masters of the past. I've always felt they suffer from an inferiority complex, hence the way they try to force others to notice them. Ah well, as Kelly said himself, "such is life."
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
comedy of errors
Well OK, Robin Hood is largely mythical, and there is no accurate story of his exploits. Even so I wonder why on earth Kostner wanted to make this movie. All the characters are so ubelievable and shallow. It certainly is not a movie to be taken seriously. On a personal note I take exception to US film makers grabbing English stories and producing a load of garbage. If the object was to make a comedy, then why not make a movie about Gen. Custer, with say Eddie Murphy as Custer, and some blonde as his love interest. I don't know why it is that Americans even think they can master the English language, let alone try to convince us they are English. This is a terrible movie, but I suspect that anyone with a mental age of around ten will enjoy it. I certainly did not. If you've never seen it try seeing a copy of Errol Flynn's Robin Hood.
The Longest Day (1962)
Bias shows
I saw this movie many years ago and only recently rented it on DVD. For my money this movie is very disappointing, full of cliches, rehashed scenes, cardboard characters, and above all totally biased towards the American military. As soon as I saw that "Green Acres" oddball Eddie Albert strutting around like an ageing thespian and John Wayne with his typical gung-ho attitude, I realised my memories of the original film were distinctly vague. This is an awful film, and I have to say the best performances came from the actors portraying the Germans. Maybe it appeals to 10-year-olds, but to those of us who took part in the war, and have longer memories, it's an extremely poor attempt at covering what was a momentous time in history. The British forces too were presented as cartoon characters as is often Hollywood's manner. Compare it to Saving Private Ryan? Well at least in TLD there were British forces present at Normandy. For Americans note the war started in 1939, not 1942 when the "yanks" decided to save the world.
Schindler's List (1993)
Nazis and Saddam
I've watched Schindler's List twice now, a fine movie and a reasonably accurate record of those events. Events? Hmm what a curious word to use. The sheer horror, brutality and inhumane treatment of Jewish people is a scar that Germany must bear for all eternity. So why, in God's name did the USA just sit by and do nothing. America has always had a large jewish population and reports of the holocaust must have filtered through to the authorities. In 2003 the USA goes to war on Iraq and the Saddam Hussein regime. Nothing can ever compare Saddam's reign with that of Adolf Hitler. And yet, the Americans did nothing. It took the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the US Fleet to awaken them, but how do you tell millions of Jews including so many, many children that only the Japanese attack was important enough for America to enter the war.